Because of the increasing interdisciplinary nature of our programs, any proposal may affect another unit. Locate and seek approval from every unit that might be interested in your proposal.

Each unit that is, a department/division/area and/or college has a faculty governance process for program approval. In most colleges, the department/division/area chair's approval is usually required before the dean will review the proposal.

After the unit approves the proposal, the dean reviews it. If he/she approves it, then the dean's office sends the proposal to Academic Affairs electronically, indicating that all unit and college procedures were followed and the proposal is approved.

Administrators in Academic Affairs review the proposal to ensure that it is complete, accurate, and in acceptable format. Proposals with deficiencies are returned to the dean for revisions. Academic Affairs holds proposals until approvals from affected units are received directly from that unit.

When the proposal is complete and in an acceptable format, Academic Affairs forwards the proposals for graduate study to the Graduate Council. Proposals for undergraduate programs go directly to Step 9 (below).

The Program Committee reviews the proposal and recommends action to the Graduate Council.

The Graduate Council forwards approved proposals to the Faculty Senate.

The Senate C&I Committee reviews the proposal, informs the Senate of program changes, and recommends action on new program proposals to the Senate.

If approved, the Senate returns the proposal to Academic Affairs for review and approval.

Academic Affairs determines where the approved proposals are to be submitted.

For new program proposals, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs seeks approval from the Chancellor.

The Chancellor reviews the proposal and recommended cover letter. If approved, he/she composes a cover letter describing to the President how the new program request fits the Mission, Strategic Plan, and campus budget restrictions.